Mental breakdown for top players, up to Cricket Australia to take a call: David Warner

Ever since the Ashes started, a number of Aussie players are playing non-stop cricket for the side. Australia thumped England in the Ashes 4-0 but a lot of cricket took a toll on the Australians and the fatigue could’ve have been seen as they were left high and dry when England bounced back to clinch the 5-match ODI series 4-1.

Australia has managed to knock down the two opponents in England and New Zealand in on-going T20 tri-series but T-20 skipper David Warner has come out in open where he is suggesting Cricket Australia to look at the workload the national players are dealing by playing a number of games of all the three formats.

Earlier Test and ODI skipper Steve Smith too had suggested that regular cricket has taken a toll on top players of the country. Warner said that the players who were part of the Ashes victory could’ve been rested for the ODI series which Australia eventually lost. Left-hander was also of the view that the gaps between the two series were not proper. Interestingly, there were just five days between the last day of the fifth Test and first ODI.

Warner while speaking to cricket.com.au when asked If some of the players could’ve been rested, he said, “In hindsight, you can say yes the way that we performed.” He was quick to say that even If they performed well in the ODIs, rest could’ve been given to the players.

Warner also mentioned how England managed the workload for their players. “England had, I think, four players maybe (playing both Tests and ODIs) and besides Chris Woakes, there wasn’t another bowler. You look at little things like that that can benefit us in a way,” said T-20 captain Warner.

Mental breakdown for us: Warner

Warner mentioned that it was kind of a mental breakdown for the players. He mentioned how the fresh players coming from the Big Bash League have managed to do a lot better than the ODI side. “If you look at the Twenty20 team at the moment, the way these guys have come out of the Big Bash fresh, they’re just killing it,” Warner told cricket.com.au.

Warner also said that the players themselves will never ask for the break on their own as playing for the country has been their dream. “We’re never going to put our hand up to say we need a rest, that’s for sure because every day we’re living the dream.”

He also said that it is up to the board to take a call and manage a better schedule for the players. He was quick to mention that even the players can raise their hands If they feel they’re exhausted. “It’s up to the individual as well to put their hand up. If you are cooked or something, you’re an adult, you’re not going to get shot down for putting your hand up. We have the onus upon ourselves to do that,” 31-year said who will lead the side for the final T20 before getting ready for the South Africa tour.